COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Intense flash flooding struck Batesburg-Leesville late Tuesday evening as over 3.5 inches of rain fell within 55 minutes. Local business owners stated that this latest flooding was the last in a series of problems; they are now seeking responsibility for the town’s infrastructure and storm drainage systems.
Audience members contacted WIS following the release of this video on social media. Angie Snow, a local business owner, captured footage of herself driving and walking through several inches of pooled water near her establishment and nearby regions.
Stone owns Hebrews Cafe located on East Railroad Avenue in Batesburg-Leesville. She shared videos on social media urging the town and the South Carolina Department of Transportation to take steps.
“Listen, the only reason I spoke up after eight years is because we’re looking for some action; we want real results. It’s not about creating trouble, it’s simply about holding people responsible and getting our drainage problems resolved,” said Snow.
In the video, there is a significant amount of standing water around the property and road, and multiple storm drains are covered in vegetation and litter.
Snow has been managing the cafe for the past eight years, and for that entire time, she has faced frustration due to what she claims is continuous flooding.
“The thing that worries me the most is that we’re about to overwhelm Batesburg Leesville with a large number of people and water…and no action is being taken,” said Stone.
Just a short distance away is Jeff Taylor, the proprietor of Ridge Motorsports. As I walked up to him, I saw sections of carpeting that were completely soaked and dripping from the back of a truck. Taylor had chosen to remove the floor of his business because it kept getting damaged repeatedly. He has been the owner of the building for more than 20 years, and every time it rains, he becomes anxious.
“Several thousand dollars in repairs and time are really involved. I’ve handled a lot myself. I’m a small business owner. You can’t afford to come in and fix it whenever you know it’s going to happen again. You don’t want to keep putting that money into it when you know we’ll be back at it again,” said Taylor.
On Tuesday evening, Taylor mentioned that there was more than 10 inches of water on the front patio of his business and over 2 inches inside his shop. He noted that conditions have deteriorated further as the land surrounding his shop has undergone development. Taylor is mostly retired and is trying to sell his shop. Recently, he mentioned that a potential buyer backed out due to worries about flooding in the area and the damage his shop has experienced over the years. He told WIS that something needs to be done regarding the town’s infrastructure.
Last night we were sitting there and said, ‘Yeah, it’s raining pretty hard,’ so when I looked out, it was pouring. So I told my wife, ‘I’m going to the business, get ready, get the shop vacs up and prepare as best I can, but it was a lost cause last night,’” said Taylor. “Over the years, I’ve just accepted that ‘this is a situation I might have to live with, but they need to do something. They come out and look, but nothing ever gets done.
WIS contacted the community of Batesburg-Leesville, and Town Manager Jay Hendrix provided a statement:
On Wednesday night, the community of Batesburg-Leesville faced a major rainfall occurrence. During roughly an hour, a powerful thunderstorm brought intense precipitation. The rainfall amounted to approximately four inches throughout the area, resulting in localized flooding in spots where such flooding is commonly seen. Although the town has limited stormwater management systems in place, we understand the effects these weather events have on our residents and local businesses.
The town of Batesburg-Leesville has recently received a Safe Streets For All grant from the Federal Highway Administration. I am hopeful that the town and the South Carolina Department of Transportation can work together to tackle the stormwater problems that have affected our community for many years. With increasing storm frequency and intensity, it is essential to address the outdated infrastructure to make Batesburg-Leesville an excellent place to reside. I look forward to meeting with DOT representatives soon to discuss a collaboration that will help improve these stormwater challenges.
WIS has also contacted SCDOT to find out who is in charge of handling stormwater maintenance and clean-up.
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